Sheet inserting apparatus for a typewriter

ABSTRACT

A SHEET INSERTING APPARATUS IS ATTACHED TO A TYPEWRITER AND HAS HOLDING MEANS MOVABLE BETWEEN AN OPEN END POSITION, IN WHICH A SHEET CAN BE INSERTED, AND A CLOSED END POSITION IN WHICH THE SHEET IS PRESSED AGAINST THE PLATEN OF THE TYPEWRITER. TRANSPORTING MEANS ARE CONNECTED WITH THE HOLDER MEANS FOR MOVEMENT IN TIMED RELATION, AND DRIVE THE INSERTED SHEET IN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION OF THE HOLDER MEANS, TO A CORRECT POSITION FOR BEING TYPED UPON, BEFORE THE SHEET IS CLAMPED AGAINST THE PLATEN.

Feb. 27, 1973 w. PRIEBr-:LL ET AL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2l, 1970 TV1/:WM5 f .woran/6 Pl/Efo 42W@ Fnoez,

ATTORNEY Feb. 27, 1973 w. PRIEBl-:LL ET AL SHEET INSERTING APFARATUS FOR A TYPEWRITER Filed Deo.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 raz/wrox 5 /Jdlu-'Muc Pl/EM Il TUR Fen B Y: I# la j hb.

AT TORNE Y Feb.`27, 1973 w. PRIEBELL ET AL SHEET INSERTING APPARATUS FOR A TYPEWRITER 5 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Deo. 2l, 1970 Maman P91539 A TMR Wma ,gl-'4r l ATTORNEY Feb. 27, 1973 w. Pme-.BELL ET AL SHEET TNSERTING APPARATUS FOR A TYPEWRITER 5 sheets-'sheet Filed Dec. 2l, 1970 w .mi

Feb. 27, 1913 W PIEBELL ET AL 3,118,245

SHEET INSERTING APPARATUS FOR A TYPBWRITER Filed Dec. 2l, 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 .iT/JIJ r//ls wwwa/6 ,pff/J@ .In Anm/2 ma@ B )g .,mf/ 'h- ATTORNEY United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 197-127 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sheet inserting apparatus is attached to a typewriter and has holding means movable between an open end position, in which a sheet can be inserted, and a closed. end position in which the sheet is pressed against the platen of the typewriter. Transporting means are connected with the holder means for movement in timed relation, vand drive the inserted sheet in an intermediate position of the holder means, to a correct position for being typed upon, before the sheet is clamped against the platen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The U.S. Pat. 3,391,775 discloses a sheet inserting apparatus for a typewriter, by which a sheet is inserted by means of a transporting roller. It is necessary that the operator of the machine inserts the sheet into the region of the transporting roller and the corresponding pressure roller, so that the sheet is gripped and transported to the position required for typing.

It is also possible to lift the pressure roller from the transporting roller, and to insert the sheet manually. The sheets may be checks, receipts, credit cards, and the like, and are often not in perfect condition, for example they may be bent, folded, or wrinkled. A sheet in this condition may not reach its correct position in which it is t be typed upon, but gets stuck in the sheet inserting apparatus in a wrong position in which it is not possible to clamp the sheet against the platen of the typewriter, and to type on the sheet. Manual adjustment of the sheet to the correct position abutting a stop, is diicult, and is undesirable since it requires time and a certain skill.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to provide a sheet inserting apparatus which assures the automatic placing of an inserted sheet in the correct position in which 'it is to be typed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sheet inserting apparatus which is suitable for use with crumpled or folded sheets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sheet inserting apparatus by which any inserted sheet is reliably clamped against the platen in the position required for typing.

With these objects in View, the present invention provides a sheet inserting apparatus by which any sheet, independently of its condition and position after manual insertion, is reliably transported to an abutment on which it rests in the desired position for typing before being clamped tothe platen.

In accordance with the invention, a transporting means is provided which continuously moves in the inserting Clirection, and is mounted in supporting means which are operated by sheet holding means moving between an open and a closed position, to place the transporting means for a short period of time in frictional contact with the sheet so that the same is transported to the desired position abutting the stop means.

3,718,245 Patented Feb. 27, 1973 One embodiment of the invention comprises sheet holdtion along the guide face to a typing position abutting the sheet holder means, an intermediate position, and a closed end position for clamping an inserted sheet in the typing position against the platen; supporting means mounted for movement toward and away from the guide surface; transporting means mounted on the supporting means for transporting movement in the insertion direction, and being located opposite the guide surface and a sheet thereon; drive means for the transporting means; and control means connecting the sheet holder with the supporting means for movement in timed relation.

The arrangement is such that the supporting means hold the transporting means in an inoperative position spaced from the guide surface and a sheet thereon, when the sheet holder means is in the open end position, so that the sheet can be easily inserted into the sheet holder means. Thereupon, when the sheet holder means is moved to an inter-y mediate position, the transporting means are moved to ward the guide surface to an operative position for engag? ing the sheet thereon, and for transporting the sheet in the insertion direction to the typing position. Finally, the transporting means is held spaced from the sheet when the sheet holder means is in the closed end position in which it is undesirable to frictionally drive the sheet any further.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the transporting means includes at least one endless round friction belt which is guided over two pulleys mounted in a supporting frame. The supporting frame is mounted for angular movement about a drive shaft which drives the pulley of the transporting means.

For angularly displacing the supporting frame, or frames, in accordance with the position of the sheet holding means, each supporting frame is provided with a cam portion which cooperates with cam follower means operated by the sheet holding means, and preferably including a rod connecting lateral walls of the sheet holder means and carrying cam follower rollers cooperating with the cam portions of the supporting frames of the transporting means. The operation is such that during movement of the sheet holder means from the open end position to the closed end position, not only the inserted sheet is moved toward the transporting means, but also the transporting means is moved toward the sheet so that the short frictional cooperation between the transporting means, more particularly a friction belt, and the inserted sheet is improved.

Each supporting frame is preferably provided with an additional cam portion which cooperates with the front wall of the sheet holding device, and more particularly with the guide surface at the rear thereof, to press the supporting frame away from the front Wall of the sheet holding means to a position in which the transporting means do not engage the sheet when the sheet holding means approacheswits closed end position 1in which the sheet 1s clamped, and cannot be further transported.

In order to assure a movement of the inserted sheet perpendicular to the abutment means which stop the movement of the sheet, it is preferred to provide two supporting frames with corresponding transporting means to engage both marginal portions of the inserted sheet.

The novel features which are considered as char-acteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be 3 best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION F THE DRAWING 'FIG. 1 is a side elevation lof an embodiment of the invention shown in an open end position for the insertion of ashe'et;

FIG. 2 is a sidevelevation of the embodiment of FIG; 1 illustrating the apparatus in an intermediate position during movement toward a closed end position;

FIG. 3A is a side elevation illustrating the embodiment of FIGS. l and 2 in the closed end position;

FIG.- 4 is a fragmentary front view, partially in section, of the embodiemnt ofy FIGS. l and 2, the sheet holder means being omitted for the sake of clarity; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective front view ofthe apparatus.

DESCRIPTION THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS yFIGS. 1 to 3 show a sheet holder means 1 having a front wall 2 facing the operator of the typewriter or other printing machine 50 which has a platen 6 mounted on a shaft 6a. A sheet 3, such as a receipt, is manually inserted into the space rearwardly of the front wall 2, and forwa'rdly of the` front walls 4 of supporting frame 12, as

best seen in FIGS. 1` and 5. Sheet holder means I1 has two lateral walls `8'secured to front wall 2, and connected by a rod 21 carrying two cam follower rollers 22. A pressurer bar 5 is also secured to the walls 8, and has a center portion 5a to which. the middle portion ofy a leaf spring 7 is secured so that the arms 7a of leaf'springl 7 pass through cutouts 5b in the pressure bar 5 and resiliently abut the surface of platen 6. Between the upper edge 5c of4 pressure bar Sand the lower edge 2a of front wall 2,

a space or window 5d is left free permitting typing on a sheet 3` clamped in the position of FIG. 3 against the platen 6. In the intermediate position of the sheet holder means 1 shown in FIG. 2, an inserted sheet 3 canA abut in a typing position with its lower edge on the leaf spring arms 7a which serve as abutment means for the sheet 3.

The sheet holder means 1, and more particularly the lateral walls 8, are mounted for angular movement about stationary pivots'19 between the open end position shown in FIG. l, the closed end position shown in FIG. 3, and an intermediate position shown n FIG. 2. The arms7a of leaf spring 7 resiliently abut the platen 6 in all three positions of the sheet holder means 1. Consequently, the bottom edge 3a of a sheet 3V inserted into the sheet holder means 1 in the open position of FIG. l, will rest on the arms 7a of leaf spring 7 when properly inserted; In the olosedj end position of FIG. 3, the pressure bar 5 presses the bottom portionof an inserted sheet 3 against the surface of they cylindrical platen 6, and iny order toassure the necessary clamping by pressure bar 5, in the typing position ofy sheet 3, it is necessary that the bottom edge 3a of sheet 3 reliably abuts the arms'7a-of leaf spring 7 which con'- stitutes a5 stopfor theinserted sheet' 3. Sheet 3 is again releasedfor removalfrom the sheet holder means 1y whenthe sheet holden means 1: is moved from the closed end n position shown in FIG. Elfto the open'end position shown in FIG. 1.

A drive shaft 10'isdriven by a motor, not shown, to

rotate in clockwise directionas viewed in FIGS. 1 to 32 and'5. Drive shaft lfcontinuously rotates, and is mounted in-bearings,.not shown, ofl the machine frame, not shown,

Offmachine'50. As` shown in FIGS; 4an'd 5, drive'shaft 10` fixedlyA carries twoaxially spaced gears 211- which rotate with drive shaft 10, and respectively mesh with gears 19.

respectively mounted in two supporting frames 12. Each supporting frame 12 has two lateral walls 13 formed with in` all angularly displaced positions of supportingframes 12, since gears 19 roll on gears '11 when the supporting frames 12 are angularly displaced.

The lateral walls 13 of each supporting frame 12 support a shaft 14 on which not only gear 19, but also a pulley 15 is secured for simultaneous rotation. Pulley 15 cooperateswith another pulley 17 mounted on a Ashaft 16 supportedV by lateral' walls 13. An endless belt 18 passes about pulleys 15 and 17, and is driven by pulley 15 to move in counterclockwise direction' as viewed`- in FIGS. 1 to 3 so that the portionr 18a of belt 18 confronting the rear guide surface 2b of front wall=2 of sheet holder means 1, moves downward in-'the insertion direction of sheet 3. As best seen in the right-hand portion of FIG; 4, thefront wall 4 of each supporting frame 12 has a cutout 30 through which portion 18a` of the downwardly` moving run of the endless belt 18 projects outward, as also shown in FIG. 2. Belt 18 is arubber belt of circularcross-sectioli, but'other materialhaving a high friction coefficient couldj also be used.

When supporting frames' 12 areangularly displaced' about shaft 10, the endless belts 18'and pulleys 15, 17, which constitute transporting means for' sheet 3 move with the supporting frames 12 toward and away from` the rear guide surface 2b of front Wall 2, which is covered by an inserted'sheet 3.

At least one lateral wall 13 of each supporting frame 12 has a cam portion 20, which cooperates with ca-m follower-rollers 22' carried by arod 21 which connects the upper ends of the twov lateral walls 8 of the sheet holder means 1, as shown in'FIGS. l to 4. Each of the, two rollers 22 cooperates with a first cam portion 20k and. its camming edge 20a so that both supporting frames 12` with the sheet transporting belts 18 are angularly displaced about shaft 10. Rod 21 and cam follower rollers 22 constitute follower means for the first cam portions 20. Between shaft 14 of each supporting frame 12, and the rod 21, which moves with the sheet holder means '1, av torsion wire spring 23`is arranged so as to urge the respective supporting frame 12v to turn in clockwisek direction about shaft 10, and to move the camming edge 20'aof cam portion 20 into engagement with the respectiveA caml follower roller 22.

The effect of spring 23 is increased by the tangential force produced at the meshing point of each pair' of gears 11 and 19 during rotation of drive shaft 10 for driving. the sheet transporting means 15, 17' and 18 through the transmission means constituted by gears 11, 19.

The front walls 4 of each supporting frame 12 are provided With two curved forwardly projecting second cam portions 24, best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, which arearranged Ion. opposite sides ofthe respective slot 30` through which the friction belt 18 projects. As is best seen in FIG. 3, in the closed end position of sheet holder means 1, the second cam portions 24 of each supporting frame 12 abut the inserted sheet 3 and press the same against the rean guide surface 2b of fron't wall 2` so thatthe supporting frames 12 are held in a position in which the projecting and effective portion 18a of friction belt 18 cannot engage the sheet 3. However, cam portions 24 engage the sheet3 and the front wall 2 before the sheet holder means 1 arrives inthe closed end position of FIG..3, so that the supporting frames 12.are gradually pushed away from front wall 2. Elements 21, 22, 20, 23 and 24 constitute control means connecting the sheetholder means lwith the supporting frames 12 for movement in timedrelation. A` sheet ejecting device E is provided above. the shaft 10, and corresponds to the ejector arrangement, disclosed in U.S. Pat. 3,391,775; y A

A rubber roller 25, not shown in FIG. 5, is securedto a central portion of the driven and rotating shaft10. Above and parallel to drive shaftp10, an ejector shaft 26 is mounted on the frame of the machine 50. Ejector, shaft 26 has arms 27 on which pressure rollers 28 aremounted for rotation. A stationary guide plate 29 is locatedabove shaft and under ejector shaft 26 for guiding ejected sheets 3 into a receptacle, not shown. At least one lateral wall 8 of the sheet holder means 1 has an extended portion 110 formed with a cutout 112 bounded on one side by a shoulder 111 and on the other side by a projection 113, as shown in FIG. 5. A pin v119 is located in the cutout '112 and cooperates with shoulder 111 to form a lost motion connection. Pin 119 is secured to one arm of a double-armed lever 116, which is secured to ejector shaft 26, and has another end connected with a pin 119a by a spring 117 with a fixed pin 118 secured to the frame of the machine 50.

The lost-motion connection between pin 119 and cutout 112 is such that the pressure rollers 28 will be in the raised inoperative position shown in FIG. 3 when the sheet holder means 41 is in the closed end position. When the sheet holder means 1 is manually tilted to the open end position shown in FIG. 1, the arms 27 with pressure rollers 28 will turn to a sheet ejecting position abutting a sheet 3 guided over transporting roller 2,5.

OPERATION Assuming that the sheet holder means 1 is in the open end position shown in FIG. l, a sheet 3 is manually inserted, and has to move to a position in which its bottom edge 3a abuts the abutment formed by the arms 7a of spring 7, as shown in FIG. 2. However, it is possible that a crumpled or folded sheet 3 does not reach the abutment spring 7, but is stuck on the front wall 2, or on the platen 6, and cannot drop down to a position in which its bottom edge 3a abuts abutment spring 7 so that, if the sheet'holder means 1 would now be moved to the closed end position shown in FIG. 3, the bottom portion of sheet 3 would not be properly clamped against the platen 6 by pressure bar 5, so that the sheet 3 could not be imprinted by typed characters in the proper position.

When the sheet holder means 1 with front wall 2, and lateral walls 8 is manually turned by the operator in clockwise direction about pivot 9, the rear guide surface 2b of front wall 2 urges the sheet 3 rearward. At the same time, control means constituted by rod 21 and cam follower rollers 22 move rearwardy with the lateral walls 8 of sheet holder means 1 to which rod 21 is secured, so that due to the action of springs 23, the camming edges 20a of the cam portions 20 of both supporting frames 12 engage the cam follower rollers 22 which causes turning of the supporting frames 12 in clockwisedirection about drive shaft 10. Due to the angular displacement of supporting frames 12, the friction belts 18 are moved toward the front wall 2, and consequently toward the sheet 3 which is between front wall 2, and the front-walls 4 of supporting frames 12. In the intermediate position of the sheet holder means 1 shown in FIG. 2, the downwardly moving portions 18a of friction belts 18 engage sheet 3 frictionally serving as a friction means and transport sheet 3 downward until its bottom edge abuts the arms 7a of spring 7 in the position shown in FIG. 2. Spring arms 7a serve as abutment means for the sheet 3.

When the sheet holder means 1 is further manually turned to the closed end position as shown in FIG. 3, the front wall 2, and the sheet 3 thereon, engages the cam portions 24 of the supporting frames 12 so that both supporting frames 12 are turned in counterclockwise direction about drive shaft 10 to a position in which the downward moving forwardly projecting portions 18a of friction belts 18 are spaced from the inserted sheet 3 so that the friction belts 18 cooperate with sheet 3 for transporting the same only for a very short period of time, as required for moving the sheet 3 in the insertion direction to the position in which its bottom portion 3a can be clamped by pressure bar 5. An engagement between friction belts 18 and an inserted sheet 3 already clamped to the platen 6, is undesirable, since the sheet 3 may be deformed, or smudged, which is prevented by the cam portions 24 of the supporting frames 12.

After a line or more has been typed through the "above, or two or more together, may also find a useful window Sd betweenthe lower edge 2a of front wall 2 and the upper edge 5c of pressure bar 5, as best seen in FIG. 3, sheet holder means 1 opens to the position shown in FIG. l in which the imprinted sheet 3 must be ejected. As best seen in FIG. 3, the clamped sheet 3 is located under the pressure roller 28, and when the sheet holder means 1 moves to the open position shown in FIG. l, the arms 27 are turned by shaft 26 under the control of a lateral wall 8, extension 110, and double-armed lever 116, see FIG. 5, to a position in which the sheet 3 is bent into engagement with transporting rollers 25, and transported by rollers 25, 28 out of the sheet holder means 1, as best seen in FIG. l. The leading edge lof the ejected sheet 3 is guided by guide plate 29 toward a receptacle, not shown. Even during transport of the imprinted sheet 3 by transporting rollers 25, a new sheet 3 can be inserted into the sheet holder means 1, and will drop toward the abutment spring 7 as soon as the preceding sheet 3 has been ejected.

It-is evident that instead of an endless friction belt 18 guided over driven pulleys 15, 17 a friction wheel, not shown could be used on each supporting frame 12. It is also possible to construct the control means 21, 22, 20 by which the supporting frames 12 are operated in timed relation with the sheet holder means 1, in such a manner vthat the cam portions 24 can be omitted. Drive shaft 10 is advantageously used for transportingthe inserted sheet 13 in the insertion direction, and for ejecting the imprinted sheet 3, as described above, and can be continuously driven by a motor, not shown, or -driven in accordance with an operational cycle of a business machine 50.

It will be understood that each of the elements described application in other sheet inserting apparatus for business machinesdiffering from the apparatus described above.

While the invention has been' illustrated and described as embodied in a sheet inserting apparatus including friction belts 18 for transporting an inserted sheet 3 t a correct position for receiving typed imprints, it is Jnot intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. r

Without further analysis,the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the `standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention l=and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended "to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. S'heet inserting apparatus for a typewriter having a platen, comprising sheet holder means having a guide.

surface confronting said platen, and being mounted for movement between an open end position spaced from said platen for guiding a sheet in an insertion direction along said guide surface to a typing position, an intermediate position, and a closed end position for clamping an inserted sheet in said typing position against said platen; abutment means for stopping in said typing position, a sheet moving in said insertion direction; supporting means mounted for movement toward and away from said guide surface; transporting means mounted on said supporting means for transporting movement in said insertion direction and being located opposite said guide surface and a sheet thereon; motor driven drive means for continuously operating said transporting means; and control means connecting said sheet holder means with said supporting means for movement in timed relation so that said supporting means hold said transporting means in an inoperative position spaced from said guide surface and from from a sheet thereon when said sheet holder means is in said open end position, move, when said sheet holder means is shortly moved through said intermediate position, said transporting means 4@ward said guide surface to an operative position for engaging the sheet thereon and for transporting the sheet in said insertion direction `to'said typing position, and hold said transporting means spaced from the sheet when said sheet holder means is in said closed end position. v

v 2. Sheet inserting apparatus ascl'aimed in claim 1, wherein said transporting means include-t'leasi'enepair 'of pulleyslrotatably mounted on said supporting means, and an endless transporting belt guided over said pulleys and having a'n'e'ndless outer surface for f'rictio'nall'y engaging said sheet. A l n v v3. Sheet inserting apparatus as `claimed in claim '2, `v'vl'e'frein said 'drive means include drive shaft, and transmission I'rie'a'nsr connecting said ldrive shaft with said pulleys; and wherein said 'supporting means are freely Itui-"'nfal'ol'y :rnirrnted onfsaid driv'eshaft for angular move'- inent'und'er'the control ofs'i-d 'control means.

Awith "sai'd follower means for displacing said supporting means with said transporting means Vduring movement 'o`f vsaid s heet holder means with said "follower means.

v6. Sheet inserting apparatus -as claimed in claim 5 wherein said follower means include a rod connecting said lateral v'vallsLand'follower roller means on said rod co- 'operating withsaid cam portion. p y

7. Sheet'inserting apparatusas claimed in -claim 6 'wherein said control means Ainclude a spring connecting said rod with said supporting means for urging said supporting means with said"tra`nspo`rting means toward said guide surface and sheet. D

,'8. Sheet inserting apparatus 'as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means include a first 'cam portion secured to said'supporting means, a second cam portion secured to 'said supporting means opposite said guide surfacie, fol-lower means secured to said sheet holder means and cooperating with saidiirst cam :portion for moving said supporting means with said transporting means between said inoperative and operative positions; and wherein said sheet holder mea-ns is'engaged by said second cam n kportion during movement between said intermediate position andfsaid 'closede'nd position so that said supporting 'means with said transporting meansis moved away from said 'guidegsu'rface and the sheet thereon during movement "of said sheet holder means 'to said closed end position, and said transporting means is spaced'fromthe sheet in said 'closed end position.

I9. Sheet Ainserting apparatus as 'claimed 'in claim 1 'wherein said drive means include a 'drive shaft, and transmissio'nme'a'ns connecting said dri've shaft with said transportin'g means; wherein said supporting means include 'a plurality of supports mounted on said drive shaft for free angular movement; wherein said transporting means include 'a plurality of` friction means respectively mounted on 'said supports driven by said 'transmission means; whereinsa'id 'control 'me'a'ns include cam portions 'secured `to said supports, respectively,'a cam 'follower 'ro'd 'secured to said, sheet holder meansand extending parallel to said rdrifve'sha'fi, and a 'cam follower roller for each support mounted onsaid'r'od 'cooperating with said' 'cam portions, respectively for moving said supports with said friction means angularly about said drive shaft sothat said friction means are moved between said inoperative and operative positions.

'10. Sheet 'transporting apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said 'control means include-other cam `portions 'secured 'to said supports, respectively, and engaging said sheet 'holder means during movement of said sheet holder -'meat-is 'from said intermediate position to said closed vend position `so 'that 's'ai'd supports andv friction means are spaced 'from said 'guide surface and said sheet in said closed 'end'position o'f said sheet holder means.

References Cited 'ERNEST T. WRIGHT, JR., Primary .Examiner 

